Backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts came to a head this year after a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in late June that declared race-conscious college admissions programs unconstitutional.
But the inklings of broader DEI pushback began far before that decision was handed down. While DEI became a conversation center piece in the wake of 2020’s racial reckoning, companies had more recently begun to back off of DEI initiatives, particularly by laying off DEI pros, according to a May report from Pew Research Center.
And in the wake of the decision, pushback became more obvious. America First Legal, a group led by former Trump Administration Advisor Stephen Miller, has headed a number of lawsuits challenging DEI programs at various institutions. And Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin held back money from one of the state’s university systems in a protracted fight over its DEI spending.
In response, DEI practitioners have outlined strategies that employers can adopt to ensure programs continue to make a difference at their organizations. Below, we’ve gathered some of our biggest stories on DEI pushback this year, including advice from experts on where to go from here.
